Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1887-12-11

mechanics upper-story room became the
abiding place ofthe quasi mail carriers. For
three long days and four sleepless nights
the small garnet was the hiding place Of
two individuals, who, in addition to plenty
of commissary stores, received q copy Of q
handsome bill, issued by the Provost Mar
shall of Norfolk, offering $3.50 reward for
the capture Of two Union spies, whose de-
| scription Tailed wonderfully well with the
secreted persons, one of whom became aw-
fully indignant when seeing himself de-
scribed as hooked nose" On the las. day
Of their compulsory seclusion they were in
formed through the columns Of the Norfolk
papers Of the Merrimac's attack on the
flee. ct Hampton Roads, the repuise by the
peculiarly constructed iron innovation
called The Monitor" and the mechanic,
on arriving home at night told them OF
| the return Of the Merrimac in o disabled
condition.
As the principal object Of the secret serv-
ice officers visit to procure plans Of the rem
oyated Merrimac Sas somewhat frustrated
by their heightened visit il was thought
we'll to dare the worst and try to escape to
the Union lines, but before leaving the city
q visit to the navy yard had to be made to
procure ocular demonstration IS to the
Merrimac's fighting capacities after re-
ceiving the penetrating bites of the Yam
kee Mosquito" q the Confederate papers
styled the Monitor. The Philadelphia
friend was requested to provide some one
who, upon payment Of q good round
sum, would guide the strangers to Pig
Point, at the entrance of the Nansemond
river, from which place the trip across the
James river in some kind OF q conveyance
would be possible. The Confederate mail,
which was yet in the possession OF the
secret service officers, was carefully sewed
in the bottom OF an old gunny sack, which
was then partially filled with rags, and at
5 the nex morning the streets of Ports
mouth were traversed by the
most de~lapidated looking unwashed
tramp police Judge ever sent
mp for 30 days. Somehow the rag mer-
chants tended towards the Navy Yard
gates, and as he had purchased a job lot
of suspenders, his apparent desire TO dis
pose Of them to the workingmen in the
yard was not objected to. He did not
make much money on his movement, but
procured all the information he required,
and no doubt escaped the gallows by
choosing a commercial life for that day
only, as the house OF the mechanic was
thoroughly overhsuled by the provost
marshal and his satellites. The Quaker
City msn, however, had been toe shrewd
TO leave any evidence around Of having
kept boarders.
A negro was employed who, for the sum
Of $50, would pilot the two strangers TO
lyle banks of the Nansemond river, and il
took him two days to perform his contract,
At the expiration OF As hours the Union
men found themselves within q Lille Of the
James river without apparent means to
cross the stream. a. in close proximity 10
a large force of Coniederates sent TO that
vicinity to obstrnct the Nansemond river
by the order Of Mr.. BENJAMIN, the Confed-
crate Secretary OF War.
The only way 10 pass uumolested from
the mouth of the NanSemond was 10 pro.
cure two Confederate soldiers uniforms,
and steal a skiff or boat aud try the exper-
iment Of running away. Time was too
precious for long deliberations, and the
plan a. stated was Immediately carried out
Two members Of the Fifty-third Virginia
lost their uniforms in return for a grand
blowout, which left them as gloriously in
toxicated as an old topper could desire,
and then the boys coaxed a negro
into allowing them TO use his old
boat, which was supplied with a dilap-
idatcd sail, for a short time to take a
ride in. The twain started, and Boreas
favoring them, reached the James river
without detection. Laying their course
10 the north shore, they were RECALLED by
several rifle shots from ~sentries stationed
on the banks, but as no injury except the
penetrating of the old rickety craft Was
perienced, they reached Norfolk News in
safety, and the important information
CLEANED in Gosport Navy Yard as to the
lighting capacities OF the Merrimac after
her battle with the Monitor, coming from
sources that could he depended upon, paci-
fed the anxious assistant secretary OF the
navy, Fox, who was at Fortress Monroe.
The mail brought from Norfolk and in
tended for Confederate friends in the North
proved very valuable, and the persons to
whom those epistles were directed received
them later, entirely unconscious that their
correspondence hal been tempered with
ALBERT DIX LEuR